Michael Godel

Michael Godel
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Reviews (32041)
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For the past 13 years Michael Godel has been tasting and assessing wine as a journalist, a critic and partner at WineAlign.com. He is often called “Godello,” a nickname that just happens to double as a terrific white Spanish grape. Godel has spent the better part of his writing career travelling planet wine in search of varietal truth and in that time has crafted more than 31,000 lengthy tasting notes, most of them positive, all of them thorough. He processes his thoughts, musings, stream of consciousness and experiences on wine, travel, music and pop culture at his eponymous website godello.ca.

Chef Michael hung up his well-used, 25 year-old whites when he closed up shop in December 2013 after a rewarding 25-year culinary run in Toronto restaurants and with the catering business he owned called All Our Favourite Foods. In March of 2011 he teamed up with Chef David Neinstein at Toronto's Barque Smokehouse and March 2024 will mark his 13th anniversary as Wine Director of the Toronto restaurant. He also makes a line of small lot wines out of Chianti Classico in Tuscany and the Niagara Peninsula, including Corretta Chianti Classico, All Day Rosé, Interloper Cabernet Franc, As Is Field Blend and Paramour Gamay.

Investigative wine travels in the last 10 years have included destinations like British Columbia, Nova Scotia, California, New York, Argentina, South Africa, Germany, France, Portugal and Spain, but Italy has commanded much of Godel’s attention. Fortune has smiled to the tune of 60 trips in ten years with more than half of them to Tuscany and in particular Chianti Classico. In February 2018 the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico made Godel one of their first five recipients of an Ad Honorem title, “Ambasciatore.” As Canadian ambassador he educates on behalf of the Tuscan territory’s Gallo Nero and their noble Sangiovese. Twelve excursions in Montalcino have also led to educating on behalf of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino. From 2016-2019 these Sangiovese investigations took the form of in person seminars and masterclasses for sommeliers, trade and media, but also restaurant staff education. In 2020 and 2021 the pivot led to lecturing more than a dozen online webinar sessions. Godel has also served as an educator for the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario (ICCO), Rioja DOCa, Vins de Bourgogne, Le Marche, Barbera d'Asti e vini del Monferrato, Asti Wines and Wines of Portugal, including for the wines of Vinho Verde.

Serving as a judge for the annual WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada since 2013 has been the greatest honour and Godello has always been proud to taste, assess and award medals alongside colleague David Lawrason at Canada’s Great Kitchen Party and with Tony Aspler’s Ontario Wine Awards. Michael lives in Toronto with his wife of 28 years and three children.

http://godello.ca mgodlelo

Latest Reviews (31522 in total)

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  Wine Rating Price Quantity  
13th Street June's Vineyard Riesling 2013, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula Bottle 13th Street June's Vineyard Riesling 2013, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada
147512
Review added: March 11, 2015
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$19.95 None
(0)V
Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Monte Bello Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains Bottle Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Monte Bello Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains
California, Usa
89284
Review added: March 11, 2015
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$110.00 None
(0)V
J. Laurens Le Moulin Brut Blanquette De Limoux, Traditional Method, Ap, Midi, France Bottle J. Laurens Le Moulin Brut Blanquette De Limoux, Traditional Method, Ap, Midi, France
Midi, France
180323
Review added: March 11, 2015
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$19.95 None
(0)V
Dominus 2011, Napa Valley Bottle Dominus 2011, Napa Valley
California, Usa
212381
Review added: March 11, 2015
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$176.95 None
(0)V
Dominus 2008, Napa Valley Bottle Dominus 2008, Napa Valley
California, Usa
212381
Review added: March 11, 2015
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$176.95 None
(0)V
Cade Estate Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Napa Valley Bottle Cade Estate Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Napa Valley
California, Usa
325027
Review added: March 11, 2015
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$143.00 None
(0)V
The Tragically Hip Fully Completely Grand Reserve Red 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula Bottle The Tragically Hip Fully Completely Grand Reserve Red 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada
411595
Review added: March 11, 2015
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$24.95 None
(0)G
Marqués De Cáceres Antea 2013, Barrel Fermented, Doca Rioja Bottle Marqués De Cáceres Antea 2013, Barrel Fermented, Doca Rioja
Rioja, Spain
518985
Review added: March 11, 2015
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$16.95 None
(0)V
Cotnari Feteasca Alba 2012, Doc Cotnari Bottle Cotnari Feteasca Alba 2012, Doc Cotnari
Romania, World
12088
Review added: March 11, 2015
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$13.95 None
(0)V
Via Latina Alvarinho 2013, Doc Vinho Verde Bottle Via Latina Alvarinho 2013, Doc Vinho Verde
Vinho Verde, Portugal
398644
Review added: March 11, 2015
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$17.95 None
(0)V
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